palpitations- synthroid 50 mcg

[Suzi_]

i have been on 50 mcg synthroid for 3 months, been getting morning palpitations after i take my am dose.

Would cutting down the dose, taking it twice a day( cut the pill in half) or taking it at night instead of morning help.

Bloodwork is in range & i feel fine otherwise.

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

what are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Palpitations can be caused by being on INADEQUATE dose of levothyroxine/T3

Strongly recommend you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing BEFORE considering changing anything

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with Hashimoto’s- autoimmune thyroid disease which you know you have

Lower vitamin levels much more common as we get older

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels

VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

[Suzi_ in reply to SlowDragon]

my May, 23 lab results were excellent.

May, 24.- Tsh 0.94 ( 0.35-4.94) T4 free 1.08( 0.69-1.48), T 3 0.90 ( 0.48-1.59)

Calcium 9.7 ( 7.9-10.2) PTH intact 58.2( 18-89), vitamin D 40( 30-100)

B12 on June,24 882 ( 211-911)

I take vitamin D and calcium 1200, mk7 k2+D3 drops.

I switched from 50 mcg levothyroxine to synthroid 50 mcg 3 months ago.

I was taking T 3, endo stopped it last year due to my risk of heart attack ( I am 80. F)

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Suzi_]

Free T4 (fT4) 1.08 pmol/L (.69 - 1.48) 

Ft4 only 49.4% through range

Free T3 (fT3) .90 pmol/L (.48 - 1.59) 

Ft3 only 37.8% through range

Was test done early morning, ideally before 9am, only drinking water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Plenty of room to increase dose

Request trial increase to 62.5mcg daily

Retest in 8-10 weeks

[Suzi_ in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes test was done early morning , last dose night before.

I thought when u were on a high dose, u experience palpitations .

Is synthroid or levithyroxine better for hashimoto?

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Suzi_]

So if you only took last dose Levo night before Ft4 would have been even lower if had left 24 hours

Palpitations are common when hypo on inadequate dose of levothyroxine

Synthroid is just a named brand of levothyroxine

low vitamin levels extremely common with Hashimoto’s

You haven’t had ferritin or folate levels tested?

[Aardvark00]

Hi Suzy

I can confirm that you can get palpitations easily not on a good dose of Levo. Small increases over weeks might be needed.

I take my thyroid at night as I find it just easier, and Synthroid has a filler, Acacia that I found I was allergic to. Doesn’t hurt to ask doctor to source the cleanest brand available.

Good luck with your journey….

[Suzi_ in reply to Aardvark00]

Thanks

I have been thinking about switching to taking medication at night, will check with the dr.

I live in USA now.

Best

[helvella Administrator in reply to Suzi_]

Many doctors will say you must take it in the morning - simply because they either don't know anything else is possible, or don't want to take responsibility for advising otherwise.

helvella - Bed-time dosing of levothyroxine

Discussion about taking levothyroxine at bed-time. Several linked references to relevant papers.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Suzi_ in reply to helvella]

Thankyou.

Very interesting & useful article!